Hi at @reliefforchild welcome to Connect. You may have noticed I moved your post to this thread on Chronic abdominal pain so you can learn about what has caused other peoples chronic abdominal pain and what has worked to treat it.

It must be so scary for you and your daughter that a reason for her pain is not being found.

Hoping that members like @mamacita @carolel @matt2134 @astaingegerdm and @sacrifice2121 will have some thoughts for you.

You mentioned that your daughter was having migraines prior to the abdominal pain. Is she still having them? Also, have you been able to find anything that betters or worsens the abdominal pain (food, drinks, standing/sitting)?

Help! I have pain in upper left abdomen and sometimes in the upper center area as well. Its gnawing and escalates as the day progressed. Sometimes its accompanied by nausea, vomiting and watery diahrria, but not always. I have bloating as well. Symptoms often ease up at night when I go to bed. I have no gall bladder and upper and lower endoscopy have revealed nothing. I've not noticed any difference with particular foods. Tried elimination diets. This started 3 months ago. I am 40. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi @lz5b00 my name is Catherine. I have been having severe acute abdominal pain for a year now, and they have done every test under the sun on me, and I am getting the same results you are. I take pain meds also, and they don't help the abdominal pain at all. Every day I have diareya nausa, and I can't keep anykind of food or liquid in my stomach, but all the doctors and hospitals say that there is nothing rong, and it is getting to the point where I am getting extremely mad that they will not believe what I am telling them.

I don’t know if I’m even doing the right thing by posting this here but I think I just need some reassurance that I’m not on some sort of self pity trip so if you think I am please keep your thoughts to yourself because I really don’t need to know them. I have been suffering severe epigastric pain for about eleven months now. I think I’ve had every investigation under the sun both as in and outpatient and we thought the gastroenterologist had diagnosed chronic pancreatitis because she said she’d leave the pain relief to the gp and would only still see me because of the weight loss (over 40kg since February) but I asked the gp today to refer me to the pain clinic and he said that was for the gastroenterologist to decide. Over the last few visits to him he has succeeded in making me feel like I’m a nobody, totally selfish and that the only person that should matter is my husband because of what I’m putting him through to the point where if I feel upset at all I can’t show it until my husband is sleeping at night as I’ no right to upset him any further. I don’t know who I can speak to who won’t judge me or just section me again. The same gp was responsible for making myself and my family believe I had dementia and won’t admit it or apologise. We’re in the process of changing gp’s but there are only one or two left in the practice we can ?trust. What happens after that? I know the majority of you are probably in the USA but we are in Scotland and the nhs isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I am now ashamed to admit I once worked for the nhs as it’s not fit for purpose thanks to the uk tory government. I just want answers as I sit here in tears because the pain is so bad despite another increase in Morphine. Can anyone come up with any rational solutions because I would be extremely grateful?

I have had the same issue and they removed my gallbladder and appendix thinking those were the issue. I am still having pains except now they include severe cramping pains. I hope you have found an answer and that the doctors are helping you. I am still on the search for an answer but so far no one is willing to help. People think I am crazy or making it up but the pain is real

Hi, my name Patricia
I have had problems with horrible stomach cramps for almost a year. No doctor seems to know why, i was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia a year ago. 6months ago the problem started at first stomach pains after eating, diarrhea, nausea, back pains, skin itching with sores on shoulders, no appetite. This lasted a few days, then months later same thing(this time lasting a week) Nov. This time it lasted a full month of serve stomach cramps after eating anything, diarrhea, nausea, itching, sores on shoulders etc. Went to doctor did blood work, everything normal. Told me see a gi doctor, so went a few weeks ago. Blood work, x-rays, CT, stool sample everything is normal. I just had a upper endoscopy the other day, did biopsies so now we wait some more. It's now when I eat dinner only I get those stomach cramps, sometimes they last over an hour, I feel bloated & it just hurts even touching my stomach. The doctors keeping putting off like I am crazy. Gi doctor says my itching is not gastrointestinal so wants me to see family doctor. Who I went to originally 6months & told me to go to the gi doctor. I feel so frustrated....

Hi @lz5b00 how are you doing these days? I keep coming back to your post, I feel like I could have written it. Did you find any relief?

Hi there,

I was just browsing through the internet randomly and found this discussion page for digestion issues. I've had abdominal pain problems since 2010. Thankfully I managed to get better after 2 years of constant pain and every test done possible. My problems have returned for the past 2 months, albeit, my pain isn't constant and does go away unlike before. My pain is usually a 4/5 out of 10 and can last for a few hours until it subsides. It is usually around the belly button area(mainly above, but sometimes below).

I have done almost every test possible. I've done an ultrasound, CT scan(with contrast), MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, cystic fibrosis testing, gastric emptying test, etc. Some of those tests done at Mayo Clinic itself in 2010 in Minnesota. All of those tests were normal. The only thing that's ever been shown in my testing, has been a slightly elevated lipase and amylase. It led doctors into thinking I have pancreatitis, but they've looked at my pancreas extensively(especially during the endoscopic ultrasound at Mayo) and the pancreas looks completely normal. I recently went to the ER and did another blood test + CT scan with contrast. The pancreas was again normal(as was everything else), but my lipase was slightly elevated at 150(normal levels being 90 for that hospital).

I went to a GI doctor today and they told me it could be an abdominal migraine, or a potential vascular problem involving the abdomen. They did schedule a HIDA scan(to check the function of the gallbladder), as that is ironically the only test(or one of the only), I have not done. They want to see the results of the HIDA scan before progressing further and they told me to try out some more bentyl for pain(something I took before and didn't notice relief from it).

Most pain medications do not help. Even back in 2010 when my pain was constant and more severe, I tried almost everything possible in terms of medications, but nothing helped. The only relief I get from the pain is from natural remedies. Tea and 1 small teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with some lemon and baking soda(this helps me the most). I don't have acid reflux like I did in 2010. It's mainly the pain now. It can be described as a squeezing pain just above my belly button mainly(sometimes lower). I do tend to also notice relief when I empty during a bowel movement. I empty usually once a day. I don't have any nausea and vomiting. I don't have a loss of appetite either. No fevers as well.

I am wondering if there's anyone out there with similar symptoms with similar test results to me. Every test I've done comes back negative(thankfully) with the only thing showing is slightly elevated lipase and amylase. I am 26 years of age. I have been dealing with anxiety since July of 2019, so I don't know if that may have caused my gut to act up a bit.

I am just really curious if there's anyone out there with a similar situation to mine in terms of symptoms and test results. Please let me know if you've managed to find out a solution to your problem, if there is someone out there.

Thank you for reading.

Has anyone had this kind of pain. I have had it for 2 months with no diagnosis.I have had every test and nothing comes up. Can you help?

I have had persistent upper central abdominal pain for years. I noticed it around age 16 or 17. It has been written off by a number of doctors as anxiety. But I don't think that is the issue. I am now 24 and it has gotten progressively worse.

I have seen a GI specialist and dieticians. I have gastritis, IBS, GERD, and many food sensitivities. My diet is severely restricted and even eating within those restrictions I still have many unresolved IBS symptoms, the most persistent of which is upper abdominal pain which gets worse after I eat and if I wait too long to eat. The pain is aggravated by some foods, particularly high FODMAP foods, sugars, gluten, and dairy.

What helps is liquid antacids, baking soda in water, or alkaline water for reflux, alkaline food and water for bloating, ground flaxseed for diarrhea, slippery elm, and acetaminophen for pain when nothing else works. I use acetaminophen sparingly (once a week or a few times a month) and do not usually use it as normal pain management, just when nothing else works and I can’t think about anything except the pain. Water generally helps, but too much water can also cause pain and painful abdominal bloating. I have tried prochlorperazine and metoclopramide which helped with the nausea and stomach pain but came with some other intolerable side effects and I could not continue taking them. Chewing fennel occasionally helps after meals because it is alkaline.

I am eating no gluten, no dairy, low sugar, low carb, low fat, a lot of vegetables and proteins and certain carbs and fats in moderation. It significantly levels out the bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and pain. However the pain still gets worse after meals and to a lesser degree, also bloating and nausea.

I don’t drink alcohol (aggravates stomach pain a LOT) or coffee, I don’t smoke, no caffeine. I don’t have H pylori or ulcers.

I do eat carbs on a regular basis but I try to keep it within reasonable limits of tolerance. Sometimes the satisfaction outweighs the physical symptoms but I have to pick my battles because eating one bite of the wrong thing can cause hours of pain.

I recently got off the PPI that I was on for 3 years to see if that would help. I eat more alkaline food now to keep acid levels in check otherwise I get reflux and the pain gets worse. Things off the med are not much different, though I do get reflux more often and the pain may be a bit worse. Maybe I’m just noticing it more. I don’t think long term PPI use is a good solution and I would rather not be on it. I have a feeling while I may have irritation due to IBS or acidity which can cause pain, that is not the only pain going on.

I’ve tried Iberogast, IBgard, ginger root, chamomile, Swedish bitters, turmeric, mint tea, peppermint capsules and they all irritate my stomach and make the pain worse. I’ve also tried antidepressants and other psychotropics but they all came with nightmare grade side effects so i didn’t take them long. Sucralfate made me extremely and painfully bloated. My diet is extremely restricted as it is and having eliminated just about everything I can, I don’t think it actually has to do much with what I am eating as much as that I am eating at all.

One day a meal may be less aggravating. The next day with the same meal I’ll have pain for hours, reflux, and bloating. My ability to tolerate food comes in cycles. Some days I can tolerate some foods, other days for whatever reason, I can’t. I have to cycle out foods for variety and symptom management but generally have some core foods, mostly proteins and veg that I generally tolerate well. But even when I stick to the absolute least irritating foods, I still often have symptoms.
I’ve had an abdominal ultrasound, gastric emptying study, endoscopy, and colonoscopy. Nothing significant there. I get labs drawn about every 6 months from my GP. CMP14 (Routine or Stat), a couple out of range but nothing requiring a workup and everything else within normal limits, hemoglobin A1c with eAg/MBG estimation, vitamin D; 25 hydroxy, testosterone, free (direct) and total, magnesium serum, phosphorus serum, prealbumin, and TSH all within normal limits.
Here is a summary from my last GI appointment “Patient's symptoms have plateaued at this point. Our work-up to include thus far has been normal gastric emptying study, normal thyroid labs, negative celiac serologies, normal fecal calprotectin, unremarkable colonoscopy and endoscopy, I recommend patient continue seeing his dietitian and to follow-up with us as needed.”
I also have upper back (between shoulder blades) and neck pain but I’m not sure if it’s related. I mostly notice the back and neck pain when I’m sitting so I assumed it was postural but I don’t know. I also have constant low grade nausea that is aggravated at the same time as the abdominal pain–because of food or a lack of food. Also extreme abdominal tenderness. Any amount of pressure is painful. Has been for about 3 years now. That's when I went to the ER for the stomach pain, got the abdominal ultrasound but found nothing, a referral to GI specialist, endoscopy found benign gastritis, and started the PPI which I have since stopped. I can't lay on my stomach because of the pain. And within the past month or so I can't even lay on my side when I sleep because that has become uncomfortable as well. My ribcage squishes into my painful upper abdomen if I lay too far sideways. It's the same on either side.
The pain has become a quality of life issue and impacts other areas of my life.
I am going to see another GI specialist to get a second opinion and have an appointment in a couple of weeks. But until then, what do you think this could be?

I’m also new to the forum so I’m not exactly sure how this goes. Does anybody have any recommendations or a story similar to this? I have an idea that it might be pancreas or gallbladder related or both but nobody can seem to find a cause.